Chapter 7

The first thing Artemis remembered was the beeping alarm clock, which indicated that it was time for the girl to wake up. "Five more minutes mom" the girl moaned before closing her eyes.

"Hey Arty, it time to wake up" Artemis would recognize that voice anywhere; the annoying red head speedster was in her room, trying to wake her up. She still did not move and soon regretted her decision as the large water balloon hit her face, making her face and hair wet.

"Wally!" she instantly opened her eyes and jumped on him. The speedster fell on the floor and looked scared. Then Artemis saw her other friend Dick.

"O, hey, what are you doing here?" asked the girl

"Don't you remember how we had a sleepover? That night was full of aster, we first went to prank our friends at Happy Harbor, then we drank some weird drinks that people in the Ice Lounge gave us, after which we all went to a strip club" Artemis thought about it but could not remember that, especially the last part.

"Dick, you little troll, we did not go to a strip club, I only suggested but no, Artemis declined" spoke Wally. Artemis smirked; the last night did not go as bad as she thought it did.

"Artemis, Wally, Richard! The breakfast is waiting!" Artemis could not believe her ears- she heard her mother's voice!

"How is my mother alive?" asked Artemis her friends

"Arty, she did not die, where did you hear that. Some crook Sportsmaster hit her last week but your father and uncle saver her. Artemis tried to process the information but confused. Her father saved Paula from Sportsmaster? The girl felt that there was something fishy about this but declined to comment. The three teenagers put on their school clothes before going downstairs to eat.

Artemis was confused at the sight before her. Quite a few people sat at the table besides her parents- Oliver Queen, Bruce Wayne, Selina Kyle and Dinah Lance. The six adults were talking about something. The girl also saw a nearby newspaper with headline "crook Sportsmaster got captured and sent to Black Gate Prison".

"Hi mom, dad" the girl spoke as she sat at the table

"Hi Artemis, how was your sleepover yesterday?" asked Paula and the conversation continued.

While group ate, the Television was on. "Hi, I am Vicky Vale reporting from Gotham. Today, the heroes of the Justice League finally defeated the League of Shadows and their superior organization The Light. " Artemis opened her mouth at the news as they were almost too good to be true.

"Artemis, we will go fishing today. You three don't be late to school. Gotham Academy is hosting a party today, remember? All classes were canceled tonight and you will be able to socialize with your friends! Off you go" spoke Paula before she continued her discussion.

The three friends got out of the house and saw a black Mercedes parked outside. "Hello Master Dick, Master Wallace and Miss Artemis. Master Bruce asked me to drive you to school today" spoke Alfred as he opened the door for three teenagers, who quickly got in the car.

As the car arrived to Gotham Academy, the trio heard a lot of music; the students were spending their time outside, doing various activities. "Here you are Artemis. Come, lets join the fun" Bette Kane, Artemis's friend appeared and led the three teenagers to the gym. As the four youngsters arrived in the building, they saw more of their friends partying. Connor was watching TV with Megan, Kaldur was swimming in the pool; Roy and Helena were practicing archery to see who was better. There were many more people, some of whom were making jokes, other dancing.

As Artemis was prepared to join the fun, a sudden earthquake shook the school. Artemis was confused greatly- she thought that earthquakes were impossible in Gotham.

"Is everything OK Arty? You look confused. Common, join the fun" spoke Wally before he ran away.

"This seems to be too good to be true. Is it real?" thought Artemis as she felt another quake. "What is going on here?" The girl decided to join her friends and to have fun. She could not enjoy herself fully as the quakes bothered her.

"Artemis, wake up. "The girl saw another person appear next to her. This girl had pale looking face, purple hair and was dressed in a blue costume. "Artemis, its me, Raven. This life is not real, come back to us" spoke the girl.

"Are you pranking me? Because this is not funny!" replied Artemis

"No one is pranking you, you were put into a comatose state and I thought I could help you. You need to fight this drug and return to the real world. Nothing in here is real besides you and me." spoke Raven before she suddenly disappeared.

The quakes increased and Artemis could feel even more of them. She looked at the friends and saw that some of them disappeared. She then saw her mother in a wheelchair, sitting next to a window.

"Mother!" exclaimed Artemis as she run towards Artemis.

"Its so good to see you Artemis, I missed you" spoke the older woman.

"I love you mother, I always will" Artemis spoke as she hugged her mother. "Please forgive me but I do not think that any of this is real- its all in my mind." The girl could see tears on her mother's eyes.

Both women could hear how Gotham Academy and Gotham in general started to break apart. Explosions could be heard everywhere, people screamed, the blissful paradise turned into hell.

"Mother, even though I know that you died, I was so happy to see you again. I will never forget you mother" Artemis hugged her mother stronger, as a tears run like rivers from her eyes. "I will always remember you and honor your memory" spoke Artemis. She could hear that the explosion rate greatly accelerated and that soon the Gotham city and the Earth itself blew up. Artemis opened her watery eyes.

Meanwhile, Raven and Robin were fighting Sportsmaster at the abandoned warehouse. "What does it feel Robin to loose your teammate to a bliss of happiness. I can assure you that you will never hear about Artemis again, nobody can escape the Black Mercy's prison.

"Sportsmaster, you are so evil. How could you do this to your own daughter? You are finitely not asterous!" exclaimed Robin as he jumped towards the villain

"When will you learn that you kids will never defeat me?" spoke he as the man angrily caught Robin's leg and threw the boy at his other companion.

"Robin, you should meet my father, he would definitely beat Sportsmaster in the best father of the century award" spoke Raven as Robin looked at her with slight annoyance.

"No need for sarcasm now. We need a plan" spoke Robin

"Azarath Metrion" started Raven. She did not finish as Sportsmaster jumped and with a piece of cloth tied her mouth and then kicked the girl away.

"Surrender Robin and I will spare you lives. You could become great apprentices and assassins, following the great Ra's Al Ghul." Spoke the villain.

"I would never join you "spoke Robin. Before Sportsmaster could do anything, Robin threw a batarang at the man, which upon the impact sent the man flying to the opposite side of the building.

"Robin, Raven, what is going on?" asked Artemis as she opened her eyes. Both teenagers could see tears on the girl's cheeks.

"Your father tried to drug you to make you happy" spoke Robin

"So it was not a dream! You bastard!" cried Artemis as she prepared her bow. Sportsmaster stood up and appeared before the group.

"Hello again baby girl, why are you so sad? I tried to give you your life's greatest desire just to stop you aiding these so called heroes to mess you father's plans"

"I saw Paula die again!" Artemis shot the arrow at her father. Normally the villain could catch any of her arrows, he was not able to do so now. The green arrow pierced his arm and went through his palm.

"Damn you girl, you could have had everything you desired in that dream, your family and friends, everything" spoke Sportsmaster as he jumped towards the trio and in one kick sent the two birds flying away. Robin and Raven soon hit the wall as the two fell on each other nearby.

"You are a monster father! I don't even want to call you that word. I hate you" The girl jumped away from Sportsmaster, sending another arrow at him. The arrow flew nest to his face, slicing his cheek slightly.

"You dare to use all the skills I taught you against me?" said Sportsmaster as he jumped towards his daughter and successfully pinned her against the ground with his foot.

"AAA!" screamed Raven. "I could sense so much anger from radiating from Artemis"

"I hope she does not make the greatest mistake of her life. Common" spoke Robin. The two friends stood up and run to rescue Artemis. Robin jumped and with the moves that Batman taught him hit Sportsmaster, after which he jumped and pulled Artemis away. Raven spoke the incantation and pushed the villain away.

"You cannot defeat me, I am a your superior as I have been fighting before you all were even born! " taunted them Sportsmaster. "Artemis, after I personally defeat and bring you to the Light, where they reshape your psyche to make you their weapon, I will kill your friends and personally lead an attacks against your new mentor." Spoke the man

Artemis took few more arrows. The girl jumped and with her leg hit her father towards the wall; she then shot her arrows. One arrow hit Sportsmater's left hand, and as it pierced through his arm, his arm got attached to the wall. The same happened to his right hand. The girl the shot two more arrows, finally securing the man. "I will get free, you hear me! I know all your secret identities" he spoke as Artemis prepared her final arrow, pointing it at his face.

"Artemis, no you don't want to do this. Get traught Artemis! Spoke Robin as he faced his sister.

"I have to kill him!" she thought before she realized that she could also fight her father in another way.

"I will not kill you father but I will punish you; I do not expect you to ever hear form you again." The girl took a small bottle from utility belt and jumped towards the Black Mercy plant; after pouring the yellow liquid on the plant she jumped towards her father and put the flower into his mouth.

"Happy dreams!" she spoke before looking away. Artemis saw her two friends who run towards her.

"I am proud of you Artemis that you did not kill him. How did you come up with this idea?"

"I remember Batman talking about the effects of Scarecrow's fear toxin and how some plants can magnify its effect, so I decided to combine the serum with the flower to give good dreams to him" she pointed out at her biological father.

Later, the three friends stood at the cemetery, looking at the tombstone. "Here lies Paula Crock, a loving wife and mother". The two Birds could see that their friend was definitely upset.

"I will never forget," repeated Artemis

"I know what you are going though is hard right now but it will get better. I lost my parents too when I was eight and even though it might not hurt as much right now, I will always cherish their memory. Besides, your father is spending his time in Arkham, where he will probably spend the rest of his days" spoke Robin as his adopted sister smiled.

"Artemis, I might not be as good at all this emotion stuff as either your or Robin but just to make you happier, my biological father is Trigon, a very powerful demon. " spoke Raven as Artemis smiled weakly.

"Lets return to the house as Bruce is probably looking for us at this point." Spoke Robin as the group left the cemetery.

A/N: Next chapter: Young Justice version of No Mans Land begins! The chapter after that: the team of Teen Titans forms!